As Frank Thomas joined the National Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday, he made special mention of three mentors from his time at Auburn. Thomas played football at Auburn in the 1986 season and baseball for the Tigers from 1987 through 1989. During his induction speech, Thomas thanked former Auburn football coach Pat Dye, his football position coach Jay Jacobs and former Auburn baseball coach Hal Baird. Jacobs is now Auburn's athletic director.

"Under your guidance at Auburn University, I became a man," Thomas said. "You guys pushed me to new heights and instilled toughness and a will to win that I never knew existed."

Thomas played tight end as a freshman at Auburn before devoting his attention exclusively to baseball. Dye allowed Thomas to keep his football scholarship even when he became a baseball-only athlete.

"I really thank you for letting me play both sports," Thomas said of Dye. "The decision changed my life. I thank you for letting me follow my dreams. Your passion for what's right led me to my career path in baseball. I thank you, coach Dye, and War Damn Eagle."

Thomas became the only baseball player in Auburn history to win the team Triple Crown twice, and he led the Tigers in home runs and RBIs in each of his three seasons. His .722 career slugging percentage and .527 career on-base average are the best in school history. He still ranks fifth in RBIs, third in home runs, fourth in extra-base hits, sixth in total bases, second in bases on balls and second in batting average on Auburn's career lists Thomas led the SEC in batting average at .385 and 1988 and .403 in 1989, and he topped the conference with 21 home runs in 1987. He was an All-SEC selection in all his Auburn seasons.

"Coach Baird, thanks for treating me like a pro before my time," Thomas said on Sunday. "I thank you, my friend. I know you couldn't make it here today, but I thank you."

The Chicago White Sox selected Thomas out of Auburn with the seventh pick in the 1989 amateur draft. He spent 16 of his 19 big league seasons playing first base and designated hitter for the White Sox.